Obituary of LaVerne Hawkins

LaVerne Hawkins LaVerne Hawkins, 90, of Tucson, went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 6, 2016. She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Caroline Oberfeld, her beloved husband, Clarence "Chick" Hawkins, son, Bruce Hawkins, brother, Lester Oberfeld and sister, Gertrude Royce. LaVerne is survived by children: Jerry (Paula), Julie (Mike Feerick), Brian (Grace), Trucynda, her grandchildren: Eric (Shelly), Sarah (Rob Keough), Amy, Chris (Brianne), Ryan (Anastasia), Tiffanie, Bryent, Michael and Nick, and great grandchildren: Hailey and Jackson Keough. She is also survived by her nieces Janice (Bud Doolen), Ann Butler and nephew, Gene (Susan) Royce. LaVerne also leaves behind special family friend, Jim Eppler. LaVerne was born at the Stork's Nest maternity home in 1925 and grew up on Alameda Street in the Menlo Park neighborhood. Her father was employed by Southern Pacific Railroad and LaVerne enjoyed a significant amount of her childhood in Guadalajara, Mexico. She graduated from Tucson High School and the University of Arizona. After graduation, LaVerne worked at the Downtown YMCA where she met her future husband, Chick Hawkins. They married on August 26, 1948. LaVerne taught Spanish at Blenman Elementary and later worked with bilingual children at TUSD. She taught second grade at Tully Elementary. LaVerne was also cook, nurse and "mom" to thousands of children at the Triangle Y Ranch camp alongside her husband, Chick, the camp's director. An avid U of A Wildcat fan, LaVerne always wore her red school shirt on game days. She was inducted into the YMCA's Hall of Fame when the organization celebrated its 100 years of service. LaVerne's parents were founding members of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, where she was baptized, confirmed and married. The three most important things to LaVerne were her faith, her family and the University of Arizona Wildcats. The entire family wishes to extend their gratitude on behalf of LaVerne to the staff of Cascades of Tucson and more recently, the staff at the Villas on Houghton for the kindness, love and care she received there. The family would also like to recognize the caring staff at Casa de la Luz Hospice for helping to navigate this difficult journey. Donations may be made in Laverne's name to: * Arizona Daily Star's Sportsman's Fund "Send a Kid to Camp" PO Box 16141, Tucson, Arizona 85732-6141. * Grace Lutheran Church 830 N. First Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85719 Visitation: January 15, 2016 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Adair Funeral Home 1050 North Dodge Memorial Service: January 16, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Grace Evangelical Lutheran 830 N. First Avenue Private burial Arrangements by Adair Funeral Homes, Dodge and Speedway.